Fang Fang

Many people are sometimes investigated during life for suspicion of cancer, either via screening or due to symptoms. Previous studies show that over-diagnosis and over-treatment of cancer can lead to unnecessary health risks, but so far, research has been very limited on what health risks the cancer investigation itself can bring about. It is increasingly established that the health, especially the mental, is affected in people who undergo cancer investigation. However, concrete risks for mental and physical health outcomes have not been studied in this context. Our goal is to investigate the risk of mental illness, acute cardiovascular conditions, external damage (self-injury or accidents) and iatrogenic damage (complications due to medical procedures and medications) during the time of the cancer investigation. Furthermore, we will examine how individual factors or tumor characteristics affect different health risks associated with the cancer investigation. Finally, we will examine whether the immediate health risks also pose a risk factor for the long-term health outcome of cancer patients. The results of this study will add new knowledge about the consequences a cancer investigation can have for the mental and physical health and what influence these investigations have for public health. The study will be able to give an increased understanding of the underlying causal factors, which can facilitate the selection of preventive measures and the optimal time for such efforts in the future. Increased insight into this area can, in summary, open up new opportunities for reduced individual suffering and more effective cancer care.

Many people are sometimes investigated during life for suspicion of cancer, either via screening or due to symptoms. Previous studies show that over-diagnosis and over-treatment of cancer can lead to unnecessary health risks, but so far, research has been very limited on what health risks the cancer investigation itself can bring about. It is increasingly established that the health, especially the mental, is affected in people who undergo cancer investigation. However, concrete risks for mental and physical health outcomes have not been studied in this context. Our goal is to investigate the risk of mental illness, acute cardiovascular conditions, external damage (self-injury or accidents) and iatrogenic damage (complications due to medical procedures and medications) during the time of the cancer investigation. Furthermore, we will examine how individual factors or tumor characteristics affect different health risks associated with the cancer investigation. Finally, we will examine whether the immediate health risks also pose a risk factor for the long-term health outcome of cancer patients. The results of this study will add new knowledge about the consequences a cancer investigation can have for the mental and physical health and what influence these investigations have for public health. The study will be able to give an increased understanding of the underlying causal factors, which can facilitate the selection of preventive measures and the optimal time for such efforts in the future. Increased insight into this area can, in summary, open up new opportunities for reduced individual suffering and more effective cancer care.

The number of cancer survivors is increasing dramatically, and their long-term health therefore begins to be considered an important public health issue. Among other things, there is mental ill-health, which can have great significance for the quality of life and, in the long run, also for survival. New knowledge of the psychiatric disease burden among cancer survivors, and increased understanding of the underlying causal factors can contribute both to the development of preventive measures and to improved care. In addition to reduced individual suffering, such improvements would result in more efficient use of the healthcare resources. Our overall goal is to systematically investigate the incidence of psychiatric disease such as depression, anxiety, acute stress reactions, post-traumatic stress disorder and abuse among cancer patients in Sweden. We will primarily map the presence of these conditions in direct connection with the cancer diagnosis and its treatment. Furthermore, we will study how sleep disorders and waiting time during the cancer investigation affect the risk of psychiatric disease states, and to what extent these in turn affect the consumption of cancer care. The project will give a picture of the psychiatric disease burden among cancer patients in Sweden and generate new knowledge about acute psychiatric complications of cancer diagnoses and treatments. The studies will be able to provide an increased understanding of the underlying causal factors, which can facilitate the selection of preventive measures and the optimum time for such efforts in the future. Increased insight into this area can, in summary, open up new opportunities for reduced individual suffering and more effective cancer care.

The number of cancer survivors is increasing dramatically, and their long-term health therefore begins to be considered an important public health issue. Among other things, there is mental ill-health, which can have great significance for the quality of life and, in the long run, also for survival. New knowledge of the psychiatric disease burden among cancer survivors, and increased understanding of the underlying causal factors can contribute both to the development of preventive measures and to improved care. In addition to reduced individual suffering, such improvements would result in more efficient use of the healthcare resources. Our overall goal is to systematically investigate the incidence of psychiatric disease such as depression, anxiety, acute stress reactions, post-traumatic stress disorder and abuse among cancer patients in Sweden. We will primarily map the presence of these conditions in direct connection with the cancer diagnosis and its treatment. Furthermore, we will study how sleep disorders and waiting time during the cancer investigation affect the risk of psychiatric disease states, and to what extent these in turn affect the consumption of cancer care. The project will give a picture of the psychiatric disease burden among cancer patients in Sweden and generate new knowledge about acute psychiatric complications of cancer diagnoses and treatments. The studies will be able to provide an increased understanding of the underlying causal factors, which can facilitate the selection of preventive measures and the optimum time for such efforts in the future. Increased insight into this area can, in summary, open up new opportunities for reduced individual suffering and more effective cancer care.

The number of cancer survivors is increasing dramatically, and their long-term health therefore begins to be considered an important public health issue. Among other things, there is mental ill-health, which can have great significance for the quality of life and, in the long run, also for survival. New knowledge of the psychiatric disease burden among cancer survivors, and increased understanding of the underlying causal factors can contribute both to the development of preventive measures and to improved care. In addition to reduced individual suffering, such improvements would result in more efficient use of the healthcare resources. Our overall goal is to systematically investigate the incidence of psychiatric disease such as depression, anxiety, acute stress reactions, post-traumatic stress disorder and abuse among cancer patients in Sweden. We will primarily map the presence of these conditions in direct connection with the cancer diagnosis and its treatment. Furthermore, we will study how sleep disorders and waiting time during the cancer investigation affect the risk of psychiatric disease states, and to what extent these in turn affect the consumption of cancer care. The project will give a picture of the psychiatric disease burden among cancer patients in Sweden and generate new knowledge about acute psychiatric complications of cancer diagnoses and treatments. The studies will be able to provide an increased understanding of the underlying causal factors, which can facilitate the selection of preventive measures and the optimum time for such efforts in the future. Increased insight into this area can, in summary, open up new opportunities for reduced individual suffering and more effective cancer care.